MISSING

Director / Producer

In 2016, Rachelle won a grant from Adobe Systems Inc. to create a film about social change. To accomplish this task, she partnered with two animal rescue organizations: the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.) and Emerald City Pet Rescue (ECPR). She produced and directed the short film "Missing," for which she won the Best Director Award at the 2016 Premio Cinematographico Palena Film Festival in Palena, Italy. The film also won Best Short Film with a Social Message at the 2016 NEZ International Film Festival in Kolkata, India.

The premise of "Missing" is to draw the attention of the audience to the plight of a young girl gone missing. She is abducted, caged and treated in an unthinkably inhumane manner. Only at the end of the film to we find out that the victim is not a human girl, but a dog. The film ends with a plea to end animal testing and to support adoption as an alternative. What you wouldn't do to a human, don't do to an animal.

"Missing" was filmed on location in Washington State using three Red cameras and a drone. Rachelle's team was made up of a talented cast and crew along with her co-star, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Cooper, who was able to not only capture the heart of the audience, but to convince them that he died on screen. Rachelle's father in the film was played by the incomparable Gene Thorkildsen. Missing was Gene's last film before he passed away from cancer. Missing is dedicated with love in his honor.